Inside Lisa Faulkner's Love Life with Chris Coghill and John Torode

The Hidden Heartbreak in Her First Marriage

Long before her fairytale romance with John Torode, Lisa Faulkner was married to EastEnders actor Chris Coghill. The couple tied the knot in 2005 and, to the outside world, appeared to have a rock-solid relationship. But behind the scenes, they faced a deeply personal and painful struggle — infertility.

In a candid interview, Lisa shared how desperately she wanted to become a mother. “Those years [battling infertility] were a very dark time,” she confessed. After three failed rounds of IVF and a heartbreaking ectopic pregnancy, Lisa was left feeling isolated and emotionally drained.

“All my peers were trying at the same time, so it was like we were swimming in the same pool, but they kept getting pregnant and climbing out until, eventually, I was still swimming in there alone,” she revealed. "I was the one in 10 who didn’t [get pregnant]. I thought, ‘Why me?’ It was exhausting.”

The emotional toll took a heavy strain on Lisa’s marriage. Despite their best efforts to stay strong, the relationship came to an end. The couple announced their divorce in 2014, leaving many fans stunned as the pair had always seemed so close.

Adoption: A New Beginning With Unexpected Challenges

Though Lisa’s dream of conceiving a child didn’t come true, she and Chris found another path to parenthood — adoption. In 2008, they adopted a 17-month-old baby girl named Billie. Lisa has since been open about the realities of adoption and how it changed her perspective on parenting.

“It’s not easy because you’re dealing with a child with trauma. It’s a trauma that will never, ever be healed, and my job is to be there to help make it better in every way I can,” Lisa said in an emotional interview.

She admitted that becoming an adoptive parent required her to work on her own emotional well-being. “I’ve had to do a lot of work on myself. It’s an ongoing process; it doesn’t stop.” Despite the difficulties, Lisa has remained devoted to being a mother to Billie and continues to speak about the beauty and complexity of adoption.

A Second Chance at Love With John Torode

After her divorce, Lisa’s love life took an unexpected turn. Her friendship with celebrity chef John Torode, whom she had met on Celebrity MasterChef, slowly blossomed into romance. Unlike whirlwind celebrity love stories, Lisa and John took their time before going public with their relationship.

“We took things really slowly because of Billie, and also because I’d been through the end of a marriage – we had a child, and I felt I’d failed in something I never wanted to fail at,” Lisa admitted.

Their patience paid off. The couple got engaged in 2018 and married in 2019, blending their lives into a beautiful family unit. Lisa has described their love as “easy, calm, and joyful,” a far cry from the emotional rollercoaster of her past experiences.

Life Today: Love, Family, and Personal Growth

Today, Lisa Faulkner is thriving. She’s embraced her role as a mother to Billie and is relishing married life with John Torode. Professionally, she’s become a fan-favorite on cooking shows, offering viewers an authentic glimpse into her kitchen and family life.

Her story is one of perseverance, proof that even after heartbreak, love and happiness can be found. Lisa's openness about infertility, adoption, and starting over has inspired many of her fans to hold on to hope, no matter how tough the road may seem.

Her journey reminds us that life doesn’t always follow the plan we set for it — but with patience, courage, and self-reflection, it can still be something extraordinary.